17 Booked for Attempting to Break Protective Dyke in Bahawalnagar’s Flood-Hit Area
BAHAWALNAGAR: Police in Chishtian registered a case on Friday against 17 individuals, including seven residents of Kamiraan village and 10 unidentified men, for allegedly trying to break a temporary protective dyke during ongoing floods in the region.
Attempt to Breach Dyke
According to the FIR, the accused used heavy machinery and tractors around 7pm on September 4 to damage the protective barrier built to shield Kamiraan village from surrounding floodwater.
When locals resisted, the suspects reportedly resorted to violence, firing in the air and issuing threats before fleeing as a large police contingent reached the scene.
Flood Situation in Sutlej Belt
Protective dykes across the 160km-long Sutlej belt in Bahawalnagar have collapsed at several points, inundating thousands of acres of farmland and cutting off dozens of villages in Minchinabad, Bahawalnagar, and Chishtian.
On Thursday night, another major dyke near Bhukan Pattan bridge on Arifwala Road broke, flooding nearby settlements and raising fears that Bahawalnagar may be completely cut off from surrounding cities.
Administration on Alert
Locals have been making efforts to repair dykes, while the district administration has issued alerts, warning of extremely high flood levels in the Sutlej. Authorities have urged residents to take precautionary measures and move to safer areas.
Teenager Drowns in Floodwater
In a separate incident, a 16-year-old boy named Shahzad tragically drowned in floodwater in Chishtian on Friday.
Rescue officials said Shahzad, who worked at a landlord’s house in the Sial settlement of Jhaiduan mouza, slipped while attempting to leave the waterlogged area. Locals later recovered his body, which was shifted to Chishtian THQ hospital for legal formalities.
⚠️ Flood Relief Efforts: Rescue teams and local volunteers continue to work around the clock as floodwaters threaten more villages in Bahawalnagar and surrounding districts.
